Libertarian Party (UK)
Libertarian Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Martin Day |
| Founded | 21 November 2007[1] |
| Headquarters | The Libertarian Party UK, White House, Ednam Road, Dudley, DY1 1JX |
| Youth wing | Young Libertarians[2] |
| Ideology | Libertarianism[3] Classical liberalism[3] |
| International affiliation | International Alliance of Libertarian Parties[4] Interlibertarians[5] |
| Scottish Affiliate | Scottish Libertarian Party |
| Colours | Blue Gold |
| Website | |
| libertarianpartyuk.com | |
| Part of a series on |
| Libertarianism |
|---|
The Libertarian Party, also known as the Libertarian Party UK (LPUK), is a libertarian political party in the United Kingdom.[1][3] Martin Day is the party's leader.
The LPUK stood candidates in only England, Wales and Northern Ireland because of a legal agreement with the Scottish Libertarian Party, and was also known as the LPoEWNI (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) so not to mislead voters into thinking it covered the whole of the United Kingdom. According to the agreement, after the Scottish Libertarian Party was statutorily deregistered by the Electoral Commission in November 2022,[6] it could then stand candidates in Scotland. The Scottish Libertarian Party re-registered with the Electoral Commission in January 2023,[7] so once again it can no longer stand again candidates in Scotland.
History[edit]
The party was founded in January 2008 under the leadership of Patrick Vessey, having registered the party with the Electoral Commission in November 2007.[1] In May 2008, The Daily Telegraph leader writer Alex Singleton claimed the founders should have set up a pressure group rather than a party. Singleton believed the new party would reduce the influence of libertarianism.[8]
On 17 September 2008, Vessey resigned as party leader and was replaced by Ian Parker-Joseph.[citation needed] The party claimed a membership of 1,000 and hoped in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal "to establish themselves in the media landscape with a couple of robust performances".[9] He said the party wanted much smaller government and would initially cut taxation to 10% before removing it altogether.[10]
On 28 November 2010, Andrew Withers was elected as party leader.[11][better source needed] He was one of the signatories of the agreement with the Scottish Libertarian Party and reluctantly signed despite his displeasure of conceding ground to the new Scottish branch of the party.
Following an internal ballot on 15 August 2015, party members elected Adam Brown as the party leader.[12]
During the 2018 local elections, the party was described as on "the fringes of mainstream British politics".[13] A party spokesperson said "This alludes to the fact that this party is the ONLY party to have been constant about the need to reduce taxation and government expenditure."
In October 2018, MEP Bill Etheridge, a former member of the UK Independence Party, joined the party[14] and became its deputy chairman.[15] Etheridge continued as a member of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy parliamentary group in the European Parliament.[16] However, he then left to join the Brexit Party in February 2019.
List of leaders[edit]
- Patrick Vessey (January 2008 – 17 September 2008)
- Ian Parker-Joseph (17 September 2008 – 28 November 2010)
- Andrew Withers (28 November 2010 – 15 August 2015)
- Adam Brown (from 15 August 2015)
- Martin Day (current)
See also[edit]
- Classical liberalism
- Liberalism in the United Kingdom
- Libertarianism in the United Kingdom
- Right-libertarianism
- Scottish Libertarian Party
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Registration summary - Libertarian Party". The Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Young Libertarians". Facebook.
- ^ a b c "About". Libertarian Party UK. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "IALP Members". Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Libertarian movements and parties in the world that are members of Interlibertarians". Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Registration summary - Scottish Libertarian Party [De-registered 11/11/22]". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Registration summary - Scottish Libertarian Party [Re-registered 13/01/23]". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ Alex Singleton (30 May 2008). "How Libertarians undermine liberty". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Ian Dunt (1 June 2009). "Interview: The Libertarian party". Politics. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "General election 2017: Libertarian Party plans for tax changes". BBC News. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Shane Croucher (29 April 2015). "Election 2015: Meet the Libertarian Party UK, which wants to turn Britain into Switzerland". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Adam Brown is Elected New Party Leader for Libertarians UK" (Press release). Libertarian Party of the United Kingdom. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ^ "Elections 2018: Warndon Parish North ward". Worcester News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Pete Madeley (5 October 2018). "UKIP exodus in Dudley continues as two more quit". Express and Star. Wolverhampton. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Annabal Bagdi (8 October 2018). "Bill Etheridge joins Libertarian Party days after UKIP exit". Express & Star. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ Etheridge, Bill (6 October 2018). "UKIP has changed from the policy mandate I was elected on I will continue to honour the original mandate with the EFDD group and use the same voting lists so I'd check your facts". Twitter.
External links[edit]